Self-lifting sad iron



July 19, 1955 G. A. BRACE Filed June 29 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I 32 INVENTOR. GEORGE A. BRACE ATTORNEY July 19, 1955 G. A. BRACE SELF-LIFTING SAD IRON 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 29 1951 FIG?) INVENTOR: GEORGE A. BRACE ATTORNEY United States Patent SELF-LIFTING SAD IRON George A. Brace, Highland Park, Ill., assignor to The Hoover Company, North Canton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application June 29, 1951, Serial No. 234,233 12 Claims. (Cl. 38-79) This invention relates to electric sad irons and more the grasp of the iron frequently for varying periods of time while the articles being ironed are adjusted or new articles are brought into place. During this period of non-use, the hot sole plate must be removed from the ironing board cover to avoid damaging it. According to long standing practice, irons have been designed for upending onto a support at the rear of the handle when not in use. Placing the iron in this position and returning it to use involves an awkward operation which is very tiring on the operator.

Recognizing these and other serious disadvantages, designers have made many attempts to provide collapsible supports of widely varying types for holding the sole plate out of contact with the ironing surface. While certain of these overcome some of the disadvantages of prior constructions, they introduce others and very few z have enjoyed commercial success. This is largely due to the complexity of design, high cost, inconvenience, excessive bulk, unsightliness, and their failure to solve satisfactorily the problem involved.

The present invention overcomes the disadvantages of prior constructions and is characterized by its extreme simplicity, ease of operation, low cost and high efliciency. In essence, the construction comprises merely a plunger which is normally locked in a retracted position within the iron. When released, a spring extends the plunger below the sole plate and lifts the iron to an inclined position with the sole plate removed from the ironing surface. Collapse of the rest is accomplished by depressing the iron against the action of the spring and then locking the plunger in its retracted position. In the interests of simplicity, release and locking of the plunger is accomplished manually and with a small fraction of the energy required to lift the iron.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a novel self-lifting sad iron.

Another object is the provision of an iron with a colt lapsible rest which is released for extension or locked out of operation by a common actuator conveniently acces sible to the operator.

Still another object is the provision of a collapsible iron rest comprising a spring operated supporting strut which is normally concealed within the iron.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a collapsible iron rest of extreme simplicity which is vertically arranged in the front leg of the operating handle.

Yet another object is the provision of an iron with a collapsible rest which is mounted in an opening formed in a one piece molded handle for the iron.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed specification of an illustrative embodiment of the inven- 2,713,223 Patented July 19, 1955 'ice tion taken in connection with the ings, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side view of a sad iron showing the collapsible rest locked in its retracted position;

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the iron supported on the extended rest;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary of a second embodiment showing the rest locked in retracted position; and

Figure 4 is a similar view showing the rest in its extended position.

The invention is shown as incorporated in a conventional electric sad iron having a cast sole plate with an embedded heating element 11. Overlying the sole plate is a cover shell 12 secured to the sole plate in any suitable manner as by the usual stud and screw connections which are accessible from the top side of the shell at a point underlying the thermostatic temperature control nob 13. The cover shell extends beyond the rear of the heel of the sole plate as at 14 to provide a housing for the heating element service cord terminals which are accessible through the removable bottom closure plate 15.

The operating handle 16 preferably comprises a one piece moulded plastic member having a front leg 17 and a rear leg 18 interconnected by a handle grip 19. The handle is secured to the cover plate before its assembly to the sole plate by means of screws 20 which engage threaded inserts 21 moulded into the front and rear handle legs. The iron is provided with the usual thermostatic temperature regulator of any suitable design which may be secured to the central portion of the sole plate beneath the cover shell. A11 adjusting shaft extends vertically through the cover shell and supports a control dial 13. Since the details of this regulator form no part of the present invention, they have not been shown.

My collapsible rest comprises a plunger rod or rest member 22 which is arranged for vertical reciprocatory movement within a cavity 23 extending upwardly through the front handle leg. The length of this rest is slightly greater than the overall height of the iron, as clearly indicated in Figure l, and is actuated by a tension spring 24 here shown as coiled about the rest. The internal diameter of this spring is somewhat greater than the diameter of the rest so that the plunger is freely removable therethrough. However, the lowermost turn of the spring is preferably somewhat smaller in diameter to provide a guide for the lower end of the rest and to keep the rest from direct contact with the hot sole plate. The lower end 25 of the spring is connected to the sole plate by a screw 26 positioned to one side of opening 27 in the sole plate. The upper end of the spring extends into an opening at the upper end of the plunger. Spring 24 is of suificient strength to lift and support the forward end of the iron in the inclined position illustrated in Figure 2.

Attached to the opposite sides of the rest 22 near its upper end are a pair of rollers 28 which, while not necessary, have been found to add greatly to the ease of operation of the rest. During extension and retraction of the rest, rollers 23 provide rolling contact between the rest member and a pair of trackways 29 located on the opposite sides of cavity 23 in the front leg of the handle. These trackways are cut-away at a point directly rearward of the rest to provide a channel 30 to receive the upper end of the rest when it is locked in its accompanying drawretracted position.

Locking of the rest in its retracted position is accomplished by depressing the toe of the iron against the ironing board in opposition to spring 24 thereby retracting the rest almost to its fully retracted position. At this time, rollers 28 will be opposite the rounded shoulders 31 at the ends of trackways 29 and the upper end 32 of the rest will extend through the top of cavity 23 in the position. It will thus be formed in the sole plate directly handle leg. The operator then places her thumb in front of projecting end 32 and presses it rearwardly causing rollers 2% to ride up onto shoulders 31 and into locking-"depress'ion-33 with the result that the rest is raised until its lower end is slightly above the lower surface of the' sole plate. Spring 24' then retains the rollers in recesses 33 and positively locks the rest in its retracted self-evident that the operator may life the iron freely from the board and may tilt it to any position without danger of releasing the rest.

Release of the rest is accomplished simply by placing the thumb behind end 32 and'pushing the rest forwardly out of recesses 33. Thereupon, spring 24 lifts the forward end of the iron to the inclined position shown in Figure 2 as rollers end of the iron will then be supported on the rearmost corner of cover and the entire sole plate will be supported appreciably above the ironing surface.

Two additional features remain to be described. For improved ease of operation it has been found desirable to mount a roller in a rearwardly opening recess 36 forwardly of opening 27. Thus, both the lower and upper ends of rest-22 are supported by rollers 35 and 28.

For improved appearance in the'front handle leg is closed by a closure member 37. This member'may be formed of sheet stock and have a hook 38 on its lower end which engages in'a recess on the forward side of cavity 23. The inturned upper end 39 V of the cover is resilient and rides along the generally a 7 horizontal surface formed in the handle leg. A light leaf spring 41 attached to the cover urges the cover to pivot rearwardly about the lower hooked end 38. This cover cooperates with the upper end of the rest in closing the top. of the cavity. During the extension of the rest, control knob 32 rides against the rear face of the cover and opens it. As therest collapses, spring 41 pivots the cover rearwardly closing the opening.

'Assembly is accomplished very simply. After inserting roller 35 in recess 36, the rest is inserted in opening 27 and'held in place by screw 26. Cover assembly 37 is then placed in the handle cavity and the handle is secured to the cover shell 12 by screws 20. 20. This assembly is then inserted downwardly over the top of the rest and secured to'the sole plate and control knob 13 is secured to the thermostat shaft to complete the assembly of the Iron;

Assuming that the rest is locked in retracted position, the operator uses the ironin the-normal manner. As the operator removes her hand from the iron she presses control knob 32 forwardly whereupon spring 24 elevates-the iron to. the inclined position shown in Figure 2. When the operator wishes to resume ironing, she grasps the handle grip and depresses the iron until control knob 32 projects from the upper end of cavity 23. Slight rearward pressure on knob 32 causes roller 28 to ride over shoulder 31 and into recess 33 thereby locking the rest in its retracted position. Under these conditions, the lower end of the rest is withdrawn slightly above the lower surface of the sole plate.

A second embodiment of the invention, illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, is generally similar to the first described embodiment except that the tension spring is replaced with a compression spring and the entire rest mechanism is mounted in the cover shell and handle assembly. in

view of the close similarity of the two arrangements, the same reference characters distinguished by a prime will be employed to describe the same or similar parts.

Cavity 2-3 formed in thefront leg of the handle is enlarged at its lowerend and includes a shoulder 4 against which the upper enlarged endof the spiralcompression spring 24 rests. The lower, small end of this spring seats in a'notch cut in the side wall of rest 22'. The lower =end-of closure member 37 ispositioned between shoulder 40 and-spring 24 and'is soforrned thatthe spring urges 28 roll along guideways 29. The rear the upper end of cavity 23 the closure clockwise against the rear upper end of rest 22'. The spring also serves to hold the closure in assembled position within the handle.

. A U-shaped bracket member 42 is provided with a hole 43 at its bottom through which the rest projects. Bracket 42 is held in assembled position with the handle and cover shell by screw 20. Hole 43in the bracket acts as a guide for the lower end of the rest and prevents it from contacting the hot sole plate. The guide bracket is preferably spaced slightly above the sole plate for similar reason.

The mode of operation of the second embodiment will be self-evident from the detailed description given above in connection with the first construction. Among the principal advantages of the second embodiment are its greater ease of assembly, extreme simplicity, andthe simple means provided for protecting the rest from the heat of the sole plate. Respecting the assembly feature, note that the col lapsible rest, the cover shell and the handle are assembled as a unit locked together by two assembly screws 20', 2t? extending upwardly into the front and rear handle legs. This sub-assembly is then secured to the sole plate by a pair of the customary stud screws which pass downwardly through the cove'r'shell at a point underlying control dial 13'.

From the foregoing it will be evident that the present invention provides a retractable or collapsible iron rest which is truely self-acting in that the operator does not lift any part of the iron in order to get it into its elevated position. Rather, the entire lifting action is provided by spring 24 and rest-22.

While'l have shown but two modifications of tion it is to be understood that these are to be tairen as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense. I do not wish to be limited to the particular structure shown and described but to include all equivalent variations thereof except as limited by the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. in combination with a sad iron of the type having a sole plate, a cover shell and an operating handle provided with a hollow front leg, of collapsible self-lifting supporting mechanism for tilting the forward end of said iron upwardly while the iron is not in use com r ing, op through said cover shell and said sole plate in nent with said hollow handle leg, an elongated rest 1. -nber positioned in said openings and substantially completeij my invenconcealed Within said iron, a spring surrounding said real member and having one end connected thereto and its other endconnected to said iron for urging said rest bcr downwardly through said sole plate opening to' the extended position of said supporting mesh manually operable means associated with said rest me! her for locking the same in the retracted position thereof for releasing the rest member when the use of the iron is suspendedto permit said spring to extend said supporting mechanismand support said iron in anincliued position with said sole plate out of contact .1 an iron surface, said spring being of the tension type, the l body of said spring being substantially larger in than said rest member to facilitate rc 'tive move... it thereof with respect to said spring, and means at the lower end of said spring providing a guide for the lower end of said rest member andcooperatiug therc 'lh to guide said rest member thru the opening in said solepiate without contacting said soleplate.

2. A sub-assembly for said iron comprising, a cover including a hollow front leg, a rear leg and a grip portion connecting the upper ends of said front and rear legs, said shell having an opening in alignment with said .iollow leg, an elongated member extcndingthrough said front leg and projecting downwardly through the opening in said cover shell, a compression spring having its upper end seated-on said'front leg and its lower e'ndconnected to the lower portion of said member, and common means for holdingsaid handle assembled to said cover-shell" and said member and said spring in place in said front leg whereby said sub-assembly can be mounted on a sole plate as a unit.

3. A sub-assembly for sad irons as defined in claim 2 including roller means carried by the upper end of said elongated member, a raceway for said roller means to facilitate reciprocatory movement of said member in said hollow handle leg, a recess at the upper end of said raceway for receiving said roller means and for holding said member in its uppermost position in opposition to said spring.

4. A sub-assembly for sad irons as defined in claim 3 including closure means for the upper end of the opening in said hollow handle leg, said closure means being located adjacent the side of said member and having a portion thereof associated with said spring so as to urge said closure means toward closed position against said elongated member.

5. A sub-assembly for sad irons as defined in claim 2 including means supported by the underside of said cover shell and having a hole through which said elongated member extends and cooperating therewith to guide said member in its reciprocatory movement in said hollow handle leg.

6. A combined handle and collapsible rest for use on a sad iron comprising, a one piece U-shaped handle including front and rear legs connected at their upper ends by a hand grip, a generally vertical passageway opening through the top and bottom of one of said legs, a rodlike member extending vertically through said passageway, a compression spring surrounding the intermediate portion of said member having its upper end seated on said handle and its lower end connected to said member so as to urge it downwardly, roller means on said member near the upper end thereof, and means in said passageway providing a detent for receiving said roller and holding said rod in its uppermost position in opposition to said spring.

7. A combined handle and collapsible rest for use on a sad iron as defined in claim 6 including closure means for the top end of said passageway, said closure means being positioned on the opposite side of said rod-like member from said roller receiving detent means and having means actuated by said compression spring for urging said closure toward closed position against said member and being movable to open position as said roller means is moved out of said recess.

8. A combined handle and collapsible rest assembly for use on a sad iron as defined in claim 6 wherein the upper end of said rod-like member projects from the upper end of said passageway when said roller means is in said detent means and provides manually operable means for moving said roller means into and out of said detent.

9. A sad iron having a sole plate, cover shell and handle secured together and having aligned passages vertically extending through the front end of said handle, cover shell and sole plate, said passages providing an enclosure and guideway for a plunger movably supported therewithin, a coil spring surrounding said plunger and having one end connected to said plunger and the other end to said iron, said spring being operable to elevate the forward end of said iron as said plunger is urged downwardly through said passage and to support said sole plate in an inclined rest position above an ironing surface, means for retaining said plunger retracted within said passages comprising interengaging roller detent and notch means the former of which is carried by said plunger and the other is formed in the side of the handle passage, said plunger including an extension accessible from the top of said handle when said detent and notch means are in latching position and being manually movable to move said detent means and said notch means into and out of seating engagement with one another whereby said plunger may be manually released for movement to its extended iron supporting position or latched against such movement and concealed within said iron at the operators election.

10. A sad iron as defined in claim 9 including a closure for the upper end of said aligned passages, spring means tending to hold said closure closed, and means on said closure engageable by said plunger as the latter moves toward its retracted position to open said closure and permit the upper end of the plunger to move to a level above said closure.

11. An electric iron including a soleplate and a combined handle and collapsible rest, a one-piece U-shaped handle including front and rear legs connected at their upper ends by a hand grip, a generally vertical passageway opening thru the top and bottom of one of said legs, a rodlike member extending vertically thru said passageway, a spring surrounding the intermediate portion of said member and having one end connected to the iron and its other end connected to said member so as to urge it downwardly, roller means on said member near the upper end thereof, and means formed in said passageway providing a detent for receiving said roller and holding said rod in its uppermost position in opposition to said spring.

12. An electric iron as defined in claim 11 including closure means for the top end of said passageway, said closure means being positioned on the opposite side of said rodlike member from said roller receiving detent means and having means actuated by said compression spring for urging said closure toward closed position against said member and being movable to open position as said roller means is moved out of said recess.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,755,528 Wilson Apr. 22, 1930 2,072,217 Reed Mar. 2, 1937 2,185,915 Gender Jan. 2, 1940 2,501,549 Swensou Mar. 21, 1950 2,582,082 Swenson Jan. 8, 1952 2,596,314 Wales May 13, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 68,076 Norway July 17, 1944 615,794 Germany July 11, 1935 455,509 Great Britain Oct. 22, 1936 

